Apparatus for mounting an electronic device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mounting an electronic device includes a cantilever rack, amounting seat, and a connecting device. The cantilever rack includes a support arm and a suction member. The mounting seat is adapted for mounting the electronic device. The connecting device includes a spherical pivot member disposed on the support arm, and a rotatable unit. The rotatable unit includes a holder disposed fixedly on the mounting seat, and a controlling member connected removably to the holder. The holder defines an engaging space for receiving the spherical pivot member. The controlling member is operable to switch the connecting device between a loose fitting state and a tight fitting state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 096134457, filed on Sep. 14, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for mounting an electronic device, and more particularly to an apparatus for mounting an electronic device, which includes an adjustable mounting seat.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional mounting seat unit 9 is used in an automobile, and includes a cantilever rack 91 and a seat body 92. The cantilever rack 91 has a front end fixed in the automobile. The seat body 92 is connected fixedly to a rear end of the cantilever rack 91, and is used for mounting an electronic device 93, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. Since the seat body 92 cannot rotate relative to the rear end of the cantilever rack 91, it is difficult to micro-adjust a display of the electronic device 93 to a user desired position

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for mounting an electronic device, which has a mounting seat that is micro-adjustable to a desired position.

According to this invention, an apparatus for mounting an electronic device includes a cantilever rack, a mounting seat, and a connecting device. The cantilever rack includes a support arm and a suction member. The mounting seat is adapted for mounting the electronic device. The connecting device includes a spherical pivot member disposed on the support arm, and a rotatable unit. The rotatable unit includes a holder disposed fixedly on the mounting seat, and a controlling member connected removably to the holder. The holder defines an engaging space for receiving the spherical pivot member. The controlling member is operable to switch the connecting device between a loose fitting state and a tight fitting state.

Since the rotatable unit is rotatable relative to the pivot member, the electronic device mounted on the mounting seat is micro-adjustable to a user desired position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional apparatus for mounting an electronic device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, partly sectional, schematic view of the preferred embodiment of an apparatus for mounting an electronic device according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a connecting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of an apparatus 1 for mounting an electronic device (not shown) according to this invention is used in an automobile (not shown). The apparatus 1 includes a cantilever rack 2, a seat body 3 disposed behind the cantilever rack 2, and a connecting device 4 interconnecting the cantilever rack 2 and the seat body 3. The cantilever rack 2 includes a support arm 21 and a suction member 22 connected fixedly to a front upper end of the supporting arm 21. In this embodiment, the suction member 22 is configured as a suction cup, and is attached removably to an inclined wall of a windshield such that a lower portion of the support arm 21 is upright. The mounting seat 3 is disposed behind the cantilever rack 2, and has opposite front and rear surfaces 31, 32, and a lower end mounting portion 33 for mounting the electronic device.

With further reference to FIG. 4, the connecting device 4 is configured as a universal joint, and includes a spherical pivot member 5 disposed on the support arm 21 and adjacent to a rear lower end 211 of the support arm 21, and a rotatable unit 6 disposed on the front surface 31 of the mounting seat 3. The rotatable unit 6 includes a holder 61 disposed fixedly on the mounting seat 3, and a controlling member 62 connected removably to the holder 61. The holder 61 is formed with a plurality of resilient arms 611 that are disposed around an axis (I) passing through the center of the spherical pivot member 5, and an annular outer wall 612 disposed around and spaced apart from the resilient arms 611. The resilient arms 611 extend forwardly and inwardly toward the axis (I) from the front surface 31 to define an engaging space 613 thereamong. The front surface 31 of the mounting seat 3 is formed with a curved cavity 311 in spatial communication with the engaging space 613. The spherical pivot member 5 is received within the engaging space 613, and has a rear end extending into the cavity 311 in the mounting seat 3.

The controlling member 62 includes an annular surrounding wall 621 defining a rear end opening 622 at a rear end thereof, and a front end wall 620 connected integrally to a front end of the surrounding wall 621 and formed with a front end opening 623 in a central portion thereof. The rear end opening 622 has a diameter larger than that of the front end opening 623.

The surrounding wall 621 is disposed around and in contact with the resilient arms 611. In this embodiment, the outer wall 612 of the holder 61 is formed with an external thread portion 614, and the controlling member 62 is formed with an internal thread portion 624 engaging the external thread portion 614 of the holder 61. When the controlling member 62 is rotated relative to the holder 61 in a direction, the surrounding wall 621 is moved toward the mounting seat 3 so that the resilient arms 611 are pivoted toward the axis (I) to thereby reduce the volume of the engaging space 613. Conversely, when the controlling member 62 is rotated relative to the holder 61 in an opposite direction, the surrounding wall 621 is moved away from the mounting seat 3 so that the resilient arms 511 are pivoted away from the axis (I) to thereby increase the volume of the engaging space 613. As such, the controlling member 62 is operable to switch the connecting device 4 between a loose fitting state, in which the spherical pivot member 5 is received in the engaging space 613 in a loose fitting manner to allow fox rotation of the rotatable unit 6 relative to the spherical pivot member 5, and a tight fitting state, in which the spherical pivot member 5 is received in the engaging space 613 in a tight fitting manner to prevent rotation of the rotatable unit 6 relative to the spherical pivot member 5.

During assembly, the spherical pivot member 5 is moved into the controlling member 62 through the front end opening 623 in the controlling member 62, and is then inserted into the engaging space 613 in the holder 61. Afterwards, the internal thread portion 624 of the controlling member 62 is engaged with the external thread portion 614 of the holder 61.

The connecting device 4 can be switched to the loose fitting state to allow for adjustment to the position of the electronic device. After the electronic device is adjusted to a desired position, the connecting device 4 is switched to the tight fitting state to lock the mounting seat 3 on the cantilever rack 2.

In view of the above, since the holder 61 is rotatable relative to the spherical pivot member 5, a display of the electronic device is micro-adjustable to a user desired position. Thus, the object of this invention is achieved. With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus adapted for mounting an electronic device, said apparatus comprising: a cantilever rack including a support arm and a suction member connected to an end of said support arm; a mounting seat disposed behind said cantilever rack and adapted for mounting the electronic device, said mounting seat having opposite front and rear surfaces; and a connecting device including a spherical pivot member disposed on said support arm and adjacent to an opposite end of said support arm, and a rotatable unit disposed on said front surface of said mounting seat, said rotatable unit including a holder disposed fixedly on said mounting seat and defining an engaging space for receiving said spherical pivot member, and a controlling member connected removably to said holder, said controlling member being operable to adjust the volume of said spherical engaging space in said holder to thereby switching said connecting device between a loose fitting state, in which said spherical pivot member is received within said engaging space in a loose fitting manner to allow for rotation of said rotatable unit relative to said spherical pivot member, and a tight fitting state, in which said spherical pivot member is received within said engaging space in a tight fitting manner to prevent rotation of said rotatable unit relative to said spherical pivot member.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder is formed with a plurality of resilient arms that are disposed around an axis passing through a center of said spherical pivot member and that extend forwardly and inwardly from said front surface of said mounting seat toward said axis to define said engaging space thereamong.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controlling member includes an annular surrounding wall defining a rear end opening at a rear end thereof, and a front end wall connected integrally to a front end of said surrounding wall and formed with a front end opening in a central portion thereof, said rear end opening having a diameter larger than that of said front end opening, said surrounding wall being disposed around and in contact with said resilient arms such that, when said surrounding wall is moved toward said mounting seat, said resilient arms is pivoted toward said axis to thereby reduce the volume of said engaging space.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said holder is formed with an external thread portion, and said controlling member is formed with an internal thread portion engaging said external thread portion of said holder. 